Riverside Offers First of Its Kind Service to Virginians Who Want To Age In Place

Riverside is the first provider in the state to offer "ChooseHome," a program designed to bring the benefits of a retirement community into a personal residence.

Newport News, Va. – Riverside Health System was recently approved to be the first provider of Community-Based Continuing Care (CBCC) in Virginia and has begun offering its program – ChooseHome – to residents throughout the Virginia Peninsula and Williamsburg region.

Also known as life care at home, CBCC programs provide services and benefits to independent older adults who wish to remain in their homes, but want to have access to a safety net of continuing care services and control over the cost of long-term care. Essentially, it's like bringing most of the benefits of living in a retirement community to a personal residence.

ChooseHome is offered to residents 60 and older and brings clients the individualized support they need to remain living in their own home safely and comfortably for as long as possible, possibly for life.

Clients will also receive the assistance of a Personal Services Coordinator who will help members plan a course for their retirement and navigate the wide range of services provided as part of the program.

Virginia leaders adopted legislation in 2012 allowing for the creation of CBCCs in the Commonwealth, adding them to the programs regulated by the state.

Riverside's program – ChooseHome – meets an identified need in the community.

"Our vision is to help people age in a place of their choosing," said Bob Bryant, Senior Vice President for Lifelong Health and Aging Related Services at Riverside. "With ChooseHome, we're able to offer residents in our community the ability to stay in their home and still have access to high quality services and healthcare they need, while also protecting their finances. Riverside is proud to be the first in Virginia to offer this program."

The creation of the Riverside ChooseHome program reinforces the health system's commitment to people aging well and its position as a leader in the field of aging related services. Riverside is the largest operator of PACE Centers (Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly) in Virginia. Riverside also opened the state's first de-institutionalized nursing home in 2013 and is implementing culture change across all of its nursing facilities.